Title: Stranger Drabbles

A/N: This is my first Stranger Things fan fiction and that the first I've posted here at in a couple of years. I usually work in the drabble or ficlet format. That is what you will see here. I may choose my owner theme words or work from a list on another site. I jump around in time as well. I hope you'll enjoy my meager offerings.

Spoilers ahead for Stranger Things 2...

Silent

It wasn't long after the Snow Ball Dance, that Hopper relented (Joyce could be persistent) and let El have time to hang out with her friends. It was at the Wheeler house and it was supervised. If Hopper was going to let El spend time with Mike, her sure as hell wouldn't let her do it alone. Joyce was there of course, but she thought the spark of romantic interest was adorable and would, likely encourage it without even knowing. No, The Sheriff had his eyes on Mike Wheeler. The kid was okay, but he was a boy, and boys tended to lose control of their hormones in the presence of girls. That's why Hopper and a gun. And he made sure Mike knew it.

It turned out that there was nothing to worry about. They were Eight graders after all. El didn't talk much which meant she felt safe and comfortable. If she had been a nervous chatterbox, he would have known something was wrong and the evening would have ended far sooner. She huddled close to him at the table as they ate dinner. She didn't participate in the game they played (Clue), but watched intently as Professor Plum was reveled to have killed Miss Scarlet in the Conservatory with a rope. She sat at Mike's side, on the couch, clutching his arm, while they watched a movie (The Love Bug). It was all very innocent. I was all very needy. It was all very needed.

Hopper watched from the kitchen, Joyce at his hip. She hugged his arm, and rested her head against it. There was comfort and safety there, too. He caught El's eye and gave her wink. She returned the wink with a smile so lovely and innocent; so thankful and peaceful, that he had to look away. The mist of emotion clouded his vision. After wiping his eyes, he returned her gaze only the find her eyes back on the movie. He moved the arm that Joyce had been resting on and pulled her into a light hug. Comfort and safety.

Night

It was after eleven when Hopper carried the sleeping El to his truck and strapped her in. She mumbled something that sounds like 'good-bye Mike' but he could be sure. He waved to Joyce, who stood on the porch hugging herself against the chill, and climbed into the driver's seat. He looked over at his passenger and surprised to find his daughter awake and pinning him with a furrowed brow and intense eyes. Hopper resisted the urge to show irritation or role his eyes at her. Instead, he nodded his head gently and smiled in surrender.

"Good-bye to Mike?" he asked, tired, but willing to give her what she wanted.

"Yes," El replied, a hint of disbelief in the one word.

Hopper's weary smile reached his eyes. "Go on then. But, be quick, like bunny."

El opened the door and darted from the truck. She as at the door, and inside, before he could blink. Joyce sauntered over to his wind with a cheesy momma bear grin on her face.

"Jim Hopper, you old softy," she mused.

"Yeah, but it's a state secret so don't tell anyone," he droned. Reaching for his pack of cigarettes in the cup holder, he added. "She wanted to say bye to the boy."

"I figured," Joyce replied.

The Sheriff retrieved his lighter from the console and shook a cigarette from the pack. Taking the but in his mouth, he went to light it.

"I'll be damned," he muttered, bouncing the cigarette between his lips. He was El emerge from the house and make her way back to the Bronco. "She was quick." Removing butt from this mouth, he shoved it back in the pack. The lighter returned the console.

The young teen hopped in and buckled up, beaming. She sat straight up and looked out the windshield, perhaps trying to get a glimpse of Mike. Hopper turned to Joyce who kissed him on the cheek and with a 'get her home to bed' wave of her arm, returned to the house.

"All set," he said, starting the ignition.

"All set," she replied, with a tight nod of her head. Her cute curls bounced in the moonlight and Hopper could not imagine a more perfect moment.

Cold

When the Sheriff said he had been keeping El's presence a secret, something inside Mike snapped. In retrospect, the something was selfish, needy, loving, protective, pitiful, and down right desperate. But, in the moment, it was self righteous rage. How dare Hopper keep El from him? How dare he allow the gaping wound that was El's 'death' to fester? How dare he?

Mike's rage about El being missing was so strong, that he momentarily forgot that she was standing in front of him, reaching out. His emotions were at once so relieved that she was alive, but ever more strained because she was so close all along. He flew at Hopper, beating his chest, calling him a liar and worse. Suddenly, the Sheriff had Mike by the elbow and forcefully ushered him into the nearest room for privacy. The young teen ignored most of Hopper's admonitions, but at the sound of El's name, tuned in.

"...needs you to get hold of yourself. I didn't ask you to approve of my choices. This is bigger than just you. But she needs you to get over yourself and get back out there!"

Still seething, but seeing the truth of Hopper's words, Mike took a deep breath. He wiped his eyes of angry tears and proceeded to calm down. His anger at the Sheriff had not abated, but he now saw that El was more important that his tantrum. Redirected, but still defiant, he said: "This is not over."

Hopper huffed in disbelief and pointed at the door. "Yes, it is."